Often referred to as the “Golf Capital of the World,” idyllic Naples has long been home to a collection of luxurious golf resorts and private clubs that rival or exceed any golf stronghold in North America. Placed like a perfect tee shot along Southwest Florida’s “Paradise Coast,” it enjoys highs in the 70s and 80s throughout the winter and over 300 days of sunshine a year.
And while both the seasonal and year-round population of Collier County has increased exponentially over the past decade, Naples still retains much of the charm – and net worth – that put it on the map many decades ago. For have-clubs-will-travel types in search of an extended getaway that just might turn into a permanent vacation, here’s a cross-section of Naples’ finest golf offerings.
Golf Vacation
Old Corkscrew Golf Club is a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course in rapidly growing Estero in southern Lee County (just north of Naples). The brawny, 7,393-yard layout sprawls over 275 acres of native, grasses, trees and wetlands marked by vast waste bunkers, pristine fairways and the Golden Bear’s signature green complexes. In short, it’s one of Naples’ most challenging circuits, replete with all Nicklaus’ modern design touches.
Unique to the area, Old Corkscrew is a pure golf experience devoid of housing and other distractions. All the better for focusing on the task at hand and managing the course’s eye-popping 151 slope rating from the tips. The course was recently acquired by the Hoffman Family of Companies, which also bought the prestigious Old Collier Golf Club nearby.
Heading south from Old Corkscrew, golfers will appreciate the thrilling combination of the Gold and Black courses at Tiburon Golf Club at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples. Both tracks were designed by Greg Norman and are home to PGA and LPGA Tour events, the QBE Shootout and CME Group Tour Championship, respectively. The combo sets up perfectly for those seeking a 36-hole-a-day experience, while the Ritz-Carlton hotel offers a variety of luxurious rooms and suites.
Keeping with the multi-course theme, JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort anchors the Naples region’s south end, and the Hammock Bay Golf and Country Club is the property’s marquee offering. Jim Hardy and former PGA / Champions Tour player turned commentator Peter Jacobsen designed the course, which recently underwent a $4.8 million overhaul that entailed the installation of saltwater tolerant paspalum grass.
Golfers can double-down with an additional round of golf at Hammock Bay’s sister course, The Rookery at Marco. This Joe Lee original design was updated up by Bob Cupp in 2002 and again in 2014 by Hardy and Jacobsen. Both courses are private, but guests of the Marriott have access to select tee times. If the south side of Paradise Coast is your target destination, this is the place to be.
Extended Golf Vacation
For a real treat, head to the La Playa Golf and Beach Resort, a boutique property situated right on the sugar sand beaches of the tranquil Gulf of Mexico. Guests have access to the La Playa Golf Club, home to a hidden gem of a Cupp design that’s regionally revered for its conditioning and playability. Two important notes: the golf club is an easy 10-minute drive from the hotel, and don’t miss the opportunity to dine at Baleen, with its see-it-to-believe setting just a few steps from the surf and sand.
For those who just can’t get enough, the LelyResort Golf and Country Club is quintessential Naples golf, with two resort tracks and one private course: The Mustang and Flamingo Island are open to public play, designed by Lee Trevino and Robert Trent Jones Sr., respectively. Both are typically in good to great condition, and practice junkies will appreciate its two full-service practice facilities, including a 54,000s-quare-foot driving range with target greens.
Permanent Vacation
The Club at Olde Cypress, unassumingly located midway between Naples’ sugar sand beaches and I-75, is a vibrant and welcoming enclave surrounded by a masterfully designed private community from Southwest Florida-based STOCK Development, which also owns the club.
Olde Cypress recently reopened its remastered P.B. Dye-designed golf course and 34,000-square-foot updated clubhouse following a multi-million-dollar makeover. Being privately owned, versus member-owned, the club can undertake capital improvements without tapping its members for “assessments” on top of their monthly or annual dues.
All 18 greens, the practice green and chipping area were resurfaced with TifEagle. This strand of bermudagrass is considered the gold standard for golf course greens as it offers improved speed, consistency and overall playability. Capping it off, greens were outfitted with a new subsurface drainage system for the rapid expulsion of excess water, a common occurrence during Southwest Florida’s summer thundershowers.
Tee boxes were enlarged, leveled and re-grassed with Bimini Bermuda, a beautiful new strand featuring a dark green hue. And golfers who’ve experienced a Dye-designed golf course know bunkers are part of the Dye DNA. Olde Cypress sports just short of 100 bunkers scattered throughout the layout, and they’ve been refreshed with new edging, contouring and sand for an impressive visual impact.
Other amenities at Olde Cypress include tennis and pickleball courts, fitness center and pool and a 34,000-square-foot clubhouse featuring both casual and fine dining. The club is the centerpiece of a highly sought-after, 450-acre gated enclave with resale homes ranging from $550,000 to over $1 million. Airports, beaches, shopping and numerous marinas with Intracoastal and deep-sea access are just minutes away.
Travel
Naples is served by the Southwest Florida International Airport in southern Lee County, offering direct flights from nearly 50 cities on 14 different airlines. The Naples Airport in the heart of Collier County is a premier, full-service FBO with U.S. Customs services. For golfers arriving by car, Naples is accessible via I-75 from points north and Florida’s east coast.